AJ Gracia

Analysis
While Atlanta has yet to make an official announcement about the surgery, including which shoulder it was performed on, the ninth overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft is facing a 7-10 month recovery either way. Gracia dealt with a shoulder issue in his final year of college at Virginia, so the need to go under the knife wasn't a big surprise and was likely known to Atlanta when the team selected him, and he still posted a .354/.489/.632 slash line with 14 homers in 56 games despite reduced exit velocities from the season prior. If he meets the short end of his recovery estimate, Gracia -- who turns 22 in October -- could participate in spring training in 2027, but a more cautious approach from the organization would see him make his pro debut later next spring or summer.